Messages

5151

Show"N"Tell ( What you have made with your CNC machine.) / Re: Mirror Lasering With Shades

« on: March 29, 2013, 12:46:25 PM »

That is quite amazing Jeff - excellent work indeed. 

Tweakie.

5152

General Mach Discussion / Re: Help reversing an axis

« on: March 28, 2013, 12:55:42 PM »

I would try; Config / System Hotkeys - then set Z++ and Z-- to the keyboard keys of your choice. 

Tweakie.

5153

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: The Laser Project.

« on: March 27, 2013, 12:43:36 PM »

Hi Craig,

Thanks for your suggestions / ideas, they really are much appreciated.

If you were to rerun the program several times does it etch into the tile deeper?

I don't know, possibly it would - but the secret is not to completely destroy the surface glaze, just to heat it, creating the micro fractures / melt which capture the carbon soot (if that's what it actually is).

Also wondered about applying rub-n-buff for an added effect. You could mask and color areas for effect.

I have tried rub'n'buff after etching and yes colours could be produced but rub'n'buff is easily removed with many different household solvents and the finished tile, although looking good would perhaps not be so durable (I doubt it would survive too many dishwasher cycles).

Others are currently experimenting with coloured enamelling powders and laser fusing these onto / into the tile surface (similar to my toner experiments shown earlier). So far, the results are not that spectacular but I think the idea has great promise and definitely needs further investigation.

Tweakie.

5154

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: The Laser Project.

« on: March 27, 2013, 09:48:15 AM »

Hi Craig,

I don’t know if this image helps because there is not really a dot pattern as such to see.

The tile was produced from an 8 bit image using the Impact / Laser plugin and this fires the laser at up to 12,500 times per second so with a feed-rate of just 3,500 mm/min most of the dots appear on top of one another (overlapping).

The marking is essentially carbon soot which has, for the most part, been integrated into the surface glaze. I still have some different samples outside in the weather and what little sunshine we have had lately - whilst others have now had many dishwasher cycles so I am thinking the marking is reasonably permanent.

The lasering process will certainly destroy the surface integrity of the glaze but tiles are not usually glazed on their edges and I doubt that grouting compound is totally moisture resistant. But, like most of my stuff, it is early days yet and time will tell.

Tweakie.

5155

General Mach Discussion / Re: Step jump problem

« on: March 27, 2013, 08:50:24 AM »

Hi Pisagor,

I am sorry, but there is no kind way to say this - The Chinese TB6560 controller board is junk.
In my opinion, you are unlikely to get it to perform in a satisfactory manner and you would perhaps be best advised to cut your losses now and invest in a substantially higher quality product (such as the Gecko G540) which has proper support and documentation etc.

Tweakie.

5156

Show"N"Tell ( Your Machines) / Re: The Laser Project.

« on: March 27, 2013, 05:02:02 AM »

I have been asked to do a few laser’d tiles for a friend (non-commercial work).

Following a bit of experimentation, it was evident that pen and ink line drawings (which use hatching to create the illusion of shade) produce better results than the pencil sketch drawings and this is the result of one of the tests which I thought I would share.

(I should point out that I have no rights to use this image. It was solely used as a test and this tile was destroyed after the photo was taken).

Tweakie.

5157

General Mach Discussion / Re: Newbie with TB6560 1st time testing problems

« on: March 26, 2013, 12:47:03 PM »

 

Tweakie.

5158

FAQs / Re: 3040 CNC

« on: March 26, 2013, 12:38:27 PM »

Hi Mike,

Welcome to the forum.

You should be able to move the Z axis with the keyboard Page Up / Page Down keys.

Page Up increases the Z axis DRO reading and moves the tool away from the work.
Page Down reduces the Z axis DRO reading and moves the tool towards the work.

If this is not the case then Config / Ports & Pins / Motor Outputs - change the state of the 'Dir Low Active' box for the Z axis.

Tweakie.

5159

General Mach Discussion / Re: Newbie with TB6560 1st time testing problems

« on: March 26, 2013, 11:43:04 AM »

Gary,

Could you not just connect red to red, black to black etc on the eaten cable then check it pin for pin ??

Tweakie.

5160

General Mach Discussion / Re: Newbie with TB6560 1st time testing problems

« on: March 26, 2013, 11:15:57 AM »

Hi Gary,

Sorry to say this but unless someone else can come up with any ideas of how to get the stepper motors to lock (enabled) with that board then I think it may be time to consider a better quality product (such as the Gecko G540) as your controller.

As said in my first post – many before you have tried to get these boards to work, without success.

It may be worth giving the board a thorough visual inspection, checking for poor solder joints or solder bridges even obviously missing components. Also check for damage such as a crack in the board causing possible broken tracks etc.

Tweakie.